Signaling apparatus



Feb. 23, 1937. E. DIERKS ET AL S IGNALING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1935 3 Sheetsheet 1 [72067250703 zzzlszflz er eUeTJOR, f 5 (3m L. E. DIERKS Er AL SIGNALING A Feb. 23, 1937.

PPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1937- L. E. DIERKS El AL v SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 five/727. 073 kr m i x W m m mow w w w I g 2% 7 J Ill n lr l ln I 0 Patented Feb. as, ice? 2,071,873

stares A'lENT OFFIQE SIGNALING APPARATUS Louis E. Dierks and Charles E. Severson, Oak' Park, 111.

Application January 2, 1935, Serial .No. 158 12 @laims. (Cl. 116-39) Our invention relates more particularly to apsectional elevation of-another form of piston and paratus carried by automobiles for signaling to cylinder mechanism which may be utilized for approaching automobiles the direction in which actuating the signaling arm, the section being the drivers of the automobiles in advance, intend ta e t the i e 3 o i 14 and Viewed in t e 5. to turn; and our objects, generally stated, are to direction of the arrow.

provide a novel, simple and positively operating Figure 14 is a section taken at the line l4 construction of such apparatus; to provide means on Fig. 13 and viewed in the direction of the whereby the operator of the signaling apparatus T OW; and may be apprized as to whether or not the ap- Fi re 15, n enlarged vi w n c i n l e eparatus is properly functioning Without viewing vation of one of the similar check valves in the 10 the signaling means; and other objects as will be pp P s o ead and in the bottom of the manifest from the following description. cylinder ofthe constru tio Of Figs. 13 and Referring to the accompanying drawings: Referring to the construction shown in Figs- Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal sectional eleinclusive, e apparatus Comprises a 15 vation of the signaling arm of our improved siging l5 which in practice would be mounted on 15 naling apparatus and its associated operating the rear end of an automobile and on which casmechanism, the arm being shown by full lines in mg a signaling arm I5 is pivoted at its upper the position to indicate a left turn and by dotted end to be swung pwa d y in either. e t on,

lines in the position to indicate a right turn. under the control of he p r nfr m a p s Figure 2 is a section taken at the irregular line tion in which it depends (Fig. 1). 20 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the The arm l6, preferably of hollow construcarrow, the signaling arm being shown in normal, tion as shown and presenting an arrow I! in depending, non-signaling, position, translucent material rendered luminous by an Figure 3 is a View in side elevation of the upper electric amp 8, is Tigidly Secured 130 a h ow end of the steering wheel mechanism of an autorock-shaft, l9 journalled in a side wall 20 of mobile shown as equipped with valve mechanism the casing IS, a bracket 2| in the casing and a forming a part of the signaling apparatus and hood 22 secured to the casing, the shaft I!) through the medium of which the position of the between the wall 20 and bracket 2| being square signaling arm is controlled. I in cross-section and .on which portion is mounted,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of electrical to rotate with the shaft, a gear 23 and a switch- 30 mechanism controlled through the medium'of the operatin Collar a valve of Fig. 3 for indicating to'the driver of the Themeans for actuating the signaling arm l6 car whether or, not the signaling apparatus is comprises a pair of racks 25 and 26 meshing properly functioning. with the gear 23 at its opposite sides and carried Figure 5 is an enlarged view in longitudinal on e uppe d o pi t rods 21 23, 5 sectional elevation of a duplex piston and cylinspectively, having pistons 29 and 30, reciprocable der. mechanism by which the signaling arm may in cylinders 3i and 32 mounted in the casing l5. be operated into thedesired signaling position. The cylinders 3| and 32 are provided at their Figure 6 is a broken section taken at the line lower ends with fittings 33 and 34 which open 6 on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the into the cylinders, respectively, and into pipes 40 arrow. 35 and 36, respectively, adapted to be selective- Figure '7 is an end View of the valve mechanism ly connected, under the control of the operator, of Fig. 3, the mechanism being viewed from the with de ir m source of t as for rightin this figure. ample, with the suction side of the engine of the Figure 8 is a plan view, partly sectioned, of automobile. The fitting 33 is also connected with 45 the valve device of Fig 7. a pipe 31 which opens into the upper end of the Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are broken sections taken at cylinder 32 and the fitting 34 with a pipe 3'8 whichthe lines 9, I0 and II, respectively, on Fig. 8 opens into the upper end of the cylinder 3|, both and viewed in the direction of the'arrows. of these cylinders being otherwise closed above Figure 12 is an enlarged broken view in vertical the pistons therein. 50 sectional elevation taken through the upper por- The cylinders 3| and 32 contain vertical ports tion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the 39 and 40, respectively, in their bottom walls, in section being taken at the line l2on Fig. 1 and which-valves ll and 42, respectively, are verticalviewed in the direction of the arrow. ly movable. The valves M and 42 are pivoted at Figure .13 is an enlarged view in longitudinal their lower ends at 43 and 44-011 the ends of a 55 cross-bar 45 pivoted at 46 between its ends to a bracket 41 on a cross-bar 4? connecting the cylinders together, the arrangement of these parts being such that both valves 4| and 42 may be open at the same time.

The pipes 35 and 36 lead to a valve mechanism 48 so located as to be readily accessible to the driver of the automobile, as for example and as shown, on the steering wheel 49 of the automobile. The valve device 48 comprises a casing 50 containing a tapered socket 5| in which a tapered hollow valve-proper 52 is rotatable as by means of the handle 53. The casing 55 has two ports 54 and 55 opening into the socket 5% at different points therealong and connectedwith the pipes 35 and 35, respectively. At the opposite side of the socket 5| is a port 55 which connects with a pipe 51 which would lead to any suitable source of suction. The Valve 52 contains a port 58 adapted to remain in communication with the port 56 at all times and ports 59 and 50 disposed in angular relation to each other as shown and selectively movable into registration with the ports 54 and 55, respectively, the arrangement being such that the ports 59 and 65 are never at the same time in registration with the ports 54 and 55. Stops 6! and 62 in the path of movement of the lever 53 serve to ensure registration of the ports 59 and 50 with the ports 54 and 55 in the extreme rotary movements of the valve 52; fiatsurfaces 63, 54 and 65 on the valve 52 in the plane of a projection 56 on a fiat spring 51 secured to the valve casing 50 releasably hold the valve in any of its three positions of adjustment, against accidental displacement.

Means are provided for signaling to the operator as to whether the apparatus is functioning to swing the arm IE to signaling position, these means comprising an'electric lamp 58 shown as mounted on the valve mechanism 48, a relayoperated'switch 69 for closing the circuit to the lamp 68 when the magnet coil 15 thereof is energized, and a switch Tl actuated by the shaft 99 for closing the circuit of the relay coil 10 to close the switch 69 and light the lamp 68 after the shaft l9 has started to turn.

The illustrated apparatus and circuit connections for thus controlling the lamp 558 (Fig. 4) showing a battery 72, by way'of example as a source of current, are as follows:

The relay switch comprises an upper stationary contact 13 and a lower movable contact member 14 in the form of an armature shown as gravity operated to open position when the coil 10 is not energized, the member 14 being pivotally supported at 15. I

The switch "II comprises spring arms 16 and T! supported on the casing 55 with interposed insulation 7B, the arms being normally out of contact. The peripheral portion of the collar 24 which is in the plane of the arm H is partially cut away as represented to present a flat surface 19 with which the arm 11 registers, and thus is out of contact with arm 76, when the valve 52 is in normal position (Figs. 4 and 7-11) Rotation of the valve 52 toward either of its extreme positions closes the circuit at the switch I 1.

One terminal of the battery 12 connects, by a wire with the armature i4 and the other terminal with a wire 8| which connects with a wire 82 leading from the stationary contact 13 to the switch member Ti, the lamp 68 and the lamp l8 being shown as interposed in this wire at opposite sides of the juncture of the wires 8i and 82. The

other member 16 of switch H connects by a wire 83 with one terminal of the coil T0 the other terminal of which connects, by a wire 84 with the wire 80. The portions of the wire 82 adjacent the lamp l8 are shown as extending into the casing 15 and through the hollow shaft [9 to the lamp l8 which is shown as depending therefrom.

Assuming the parts of the apparatus to be in normal position as shown in Figs. 2 to 12, inclusive, in which position the arm l6 hangs down vertically from its pivot shaft l9, the pistons 29 and 35 occupy the intermediate positions shown, the valves 39 and 45 are open, both cylinders 3| and 32 are out of communication with the source of suction and the switch H is open and both lamps l8 and 58 deenergized, the operator, as-

suming he wishes to signal a left turn, would turn the valve 52 in clockwise direction in Figs. 9-l1 to bring the port 50 into registration with the port 55 whereupon suction would be exerted through pipes 51 and 36 in the lower end of the cylinder 32 and in the upper end of the cylinder 3| through the cross pipe 38. The first action of the suction thus applied would be to raise the valve 42 to close port 40 and lower the valve 4| to further open the port 39 and through the cross pipe 3! the upper end of the cylinder 32, to the atmosphere. The suction action in continuing will draw piston 39 downwardly and pull piston 29 upwardly thusactuatingthe gear 23 to swing the arm I5 upwardly to the left in Fig. 1 to the full line position therein shown. Upon the initial turning of the valve 52 to the position stated the contact 11 is flexed into engagement with the contact '15 which closes the circuit through the lamp i8 and solenoid I0 and by reason of the energizing of the latter closes the switch 69 and energizes lamp 68.

To restore the several parts to normal position the operator rotates the valve 52 back to normal position (Figs. 9-11) thus shutting off suction to the piston and cylinder mechanism, whereupon the valves 4i and 42 assume open position (Fig. 5) permitting the signaling arm It to swing to depending vertical position, the pistons 29 and 3G assuming the intermediate positions as shown in Fig. 5 and the switch 15 becoming open (Fig. 4) thus extinguishing the lamp i 8 and by breaking the circuit through the coil l1 extinguishing the lamp 68.

The actuation of the signaling arm I 6 to the dotted right-hand position shown in Fig. l is accomplished by the operator rotating the valve 52 in counterclockwise direction from the normal position shown in Figs. 8-10 to a position in which the port 59 registers with the port 54 which results in suction being exerted in the lower end of the cylinder 3| and the upper end of the cylinder 32 (the valve 4! automatically closing by the suction) and the opening of the upper end of the cylinder 3| and the lower end of the cylinder 32 to the atmosphere, the lamps l8 and 68 becoming energized in the initial movement of the valve 52 as explained above in connection with the description of the operation of the signaling arm I 5 to indicate a left turn, the operated parts returning to normal position upon the rotation of the valve 52 by the operator back to normal position.

Certain features of the invention may also be embodied in mechanism for actuating the signaling arm it of a type involving a single piston and cylinder device (the piston being double acting), instead of the duplex piston and cylinder mechanism of Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive. Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show such an embodiment of the invention, the single cylinder thereof, represented at 8'5, and located in the casing [5, being provided as a substitute for the cylinders of the construction of the preceding figures of the drawings. The cylinder 85 contains a double acting piston represented generally at 86 and comprising two piston head portions 81 and 88 connected together by a stem 89 having an arm 9% extending laterally through, and vertically slidable in, a-slot 9! in a side of the cylinder, the outer end of the arm 93 being connected with an upwardly extending bar 92 having a rack portion $3 meshing with the gear 23 for actuating the latter responsive to the actuation of the piston device 86 in either direction, under the control of the operatonfor causing the signaling arm IE to be swung. in either direction, from .vertical depending position to substantially horizontal position for indicating the direction in which the vehicle is to turn, the bar 232 being shown as backed by a roller 94 journalled on the casing I5 to insure intermesh of the rack 23 with the gear 23 at all times.

The upper piston 81 and the bottom wall 95 of the cylinder 85 contain openings ,therethrough as represented at 95 of the bottom wall 95 of the cylinder and in which check valves 91 each of the same construction, are located. Each of the check valves 91 is shown as comprising a valve casing 98 adapted to be screwed into the opening to be controlled thereby, each casing containing a valve seat 99 with which cooperates a ball-check [G9 which normally rests, in spaced relation to the seat 99, on a cross pin I01 carried by the casing, the balls Hit? of the valve devices being adapted to be drawn into engagement with their seats upon the exertion of suction at the upper ends of the casings 98.

Any suitable valve mechanism, such as that shown in Figs. 7-11, may be provided for exerting suction selectively in the cylinder above the piston portion 87 and below the piston portion 88 to swing the signaling arm it in the desired direction, the suction being exerted in the upper end of the cylinder through the pipe I02 and in the lower end of the cylinder through the pipe I03, these two pipes, where the valve mechanism of Figs. "1-11 would be employed, being connected, respectively, with the ports 54 and 55.

It will be understood from the foregoing that in the normal position of the device the signaling arm It will hang vertically from its pivot shaft I9, the piston device 85 will assume the intermediate position shown in Figs. 13 and 14, and both of the check valves 9'? will be open. Assuming that the signaling arm I6 is to be swung upwardly to the left in Fig. 13 to indicate a left-hand turn, the operator manipulates the valve 52 to exert suction in the cylinder 65 above the piston 81 which causes the check valve 8'! in the piston 81 to close and the piston device 86 to be bodily raised and actuate the arm I6 as stated through the medium of the rack 93 and gear 23, the check valve 91 in the bottom of the cylinder 85 remaining open to equalize the pressure at opposite sides of the piston 88 and thereby not-interfere with the lifting of the piston device by the suction action. The parts operated as described remain in the positions to which they are operated until the valve 52 is returned to normal position whereupon the check valve 91 in the piston portion 8i opens, and the signaling arm Hi thereupon swings back to normal depending position,

rections, and means returning to the normal position shown in Fig. 13 the operating mechanism for the signaling arm.

Movement of the signaling arm Hi from depending position, upwardly to the right in Fig. 13 to indicate a right-hand turn is effected by adinitting suction to the cylinder 85 below the piston 88 which results in the automatic closing of the check valve 91 in the bottom of the cylinder to permit of the building up of negative pressure below the piston portion 83 to draw the piston device 86 downwardly and thus swing the signaling arm it to the position stated, the check valve 91 in the piston portion 8i, remaining open during this operation of the device. As soon as suction through the pipe m3 is discontinued the lower check valve 'Q'l opens, whereupon the arm it swings back to normal depending position and the operating parts again assume the position shown in Fig. 13.

While we have illustrated and described certainforms: of construction in which our invention is embodied, we do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Signaling means comprising a signaling de vice movable into difierent positions and automatically returnable to normal position, piston and cylinder mechanism for controlling the position of said device, means for actuating said mechanism and relief means embodied in said mechanism for automatically equalizing the pressure in said mechanism upon discontinuing the application of driving power thereto thereby to permit said signaling device and said mechanism to return to normal position.

2. Signaling means comprising a signaling de vice adapted to normally assume depending position and swing able in either direction therefrom, piston and cylinder mechanism for controlling the position of said device, means for ac tuating'said mechanism and relief means embodied in said mechanism for automatically equalizing the pressure in said mechanism upon discontinuing the application of driving power thereto thereby to permit said signaling device and said mechanism to return to normal position.

3. Signaling means comprising a signaling device movable into different positions and automatically returnable to normal position, a pair of piston and cylinder devices for actuating said signaling device and operating in opposite difor exerting suction in one end of one cylinder and the opposite end of the other cylinder to move said signaling device into one position, and for exerting suction in the other ends of the cylinders to move said signaling device in the opposite direction.

4. Signaling means comprising a pivoted signaling arm, a gear rotatable with said arm, a pair of piston and cylinder devices having rack portions on the movable parts of said devices engaging said gear at opposite sides thereof, and means for actuating said devices for actuating said arm.

5. Signaling means comprising a signaling de vice movable to and from a neutral position to two different projected positions, a pair of piston and cylinder devices operatively connected with said signaling device and moving in opposite directions, means for exerting suction in said cylinders for moving said signaling device into said different positions, and valve means on said devices operating automatically to close said cylinders to the atmosphere when suction is applied thereto and open said cylinders to the atmosphere when suction is discontinued.

6. Signaling means comprising a signaling device movable to and from a neutral position to two difierent projected positions, a pair of piston and cylinder devices operatively connected with said signaling device and moving in opposite olirections, means for exerting suction in said cylinders for moving said signaling device into said different positions, and valve means for said cylinders comprising valves operatively connected together to move in opposite directions, one to closed position and the other toopen position, and operating automatically to close said cylinders to the atmosphere when suction is applied thereto and open said cylinders to the atmosphere when suction is discontinued.

'7. Signaling means comprising a signaling device movable into diiferent positions and automatically returnable to normal position, piston and cylinder mechanism comprising a cylinder and a double-acting double-headed piston therein for controlling the position of said device, means for actuating said mechanism, and relief valves in one of said heads and one end of said cylinder for automatically equalizing the pressure in said mechanism upon discontinuing the application of driving power thereto thereby to permit said signaling device and said mechanism to return to normal position.

8. Signaling means comprising a signaling device movable into difi'erent positions and automatically returnable to normal position, piston and cylinder mechanism comprising a doubleacting double-headed piston therein, an arm connected with said piston and extending through, and movable along, a side of said cylinder, said arm being operatively connected with the signaling device, means for actuating said piston, and relief valves in one of said heads and one end of said cylinder for automatically equalizing the pressure in said cylinder upon discontinuing the application of driving power thereto thereby to.

permit said signaling device and said piston to return to normal position.

9. Signaling means comprising a signaling device movable into different positions and automatically returnable to normal position and suction means for actuating said device comprising a pair of piston and cylinder devices operatively connected with said signaling device and moving in opposite directions and relief valves in said cylinders for automatically relieving back vacuum pressure which would otherwise be produced in the actuating of said signaling device.

10. Signaling means comprising a signaling device movable into different positions and automatically returnable to normal position and suction means for actuating said device comprising a pair of piston and cylinder devices operatively connected with said signaling device and moving in opposite directions and relief valves in said cylinders for automatically relieving back vacuum pressure in the portions of said cylinders other than those in which the operative suction is exerted when actuating said signaling device.

11. Signaling means comprising a signaling arm adapted to normally assume a perpendicular position and swingable in either direction therefrom; a pair of suction-operated means connected to, and each operable for swinging, said arm in a different direction from normal position, said means comprising pistons and cylinders, said cylinders containing ports, valves controlling said ports and means interconnecting said valves for movement in opposite directions.

12. Signaling means comprising a signaling arm adapted to normally assume a perpendicular position and swingable in either direction therefrom, a pair of suction-operated means connected to, and each operable for swinging, said arm in a different direction from normal position, said means comprising pistons and cylinders, the bottoms of said cylinders containing ports, valves controlling said ports, and a member pivotally supported between its ends and pivoted at opposite sides of its pivotal support to said valves.

LOUIS E. DIERKS. CHARLES E. SEVERSON. 

